Permatemping may not seem fair, but the practice does not seem widespread and given today’s economy, it’s one way businesses can stay competitive.
Permatemping may not seem fair, but the practice does not seem widespread and given today’s economy, it’s one way businesses can stay competitive.
Permatemping originated at Microsoft, the computer software giant in the 1980s, and though Microsoft lost a court challenge over the practice, it continues today after being supported in subsequent court cases.
Permatemping, the hiring of full-time workers for extended periods of time through a third-party work force agency, puts permanent and temporary workers at a job, side by side, but with temps generally paid less, with fewer or no benefits or job security. In a story last Sunday, Georgia-Pacific in Muskogee reported that they have 1,350 workers and usually about 225 temps, some of them long-term temps, but most only staying for up to six months.
Georgia-Pacific and other companies say temps often are hired on permanently and that they prevent layoffs of permanent workers, insuring their jobs. And though it may sound harsh, companies say if someone doesn’t want to work a temp job, then don’t apply.
Unfortunately, a tough global market dictates many present business practices and for the United States to compete, the employment picture changes almost yearly. China, we all know, can produce goods and ship them here cheaper than we can produce the same goods here.
As long as that continues, the U.S. employment picture will continue to change. Right now, the story surrounding permatemps is still developing. While there appears to be a legitimate need for that hiring practice, we would hope that it would be employed on a very, very limited basis.
Email This Page!